As You Like It Challenge (DT) Your Favourite Person To Make For

 Hello chaps, hope you are all keeping your toes toasty warm in this

little cold snap, anyone would think tomorrow was December!

So, before I tell you about the theme for this challenge, I have a little bit of news for you.  This is my penultimate post as a DT member for AS YOU LIKE IT CHALLENGE.  After several years of putting up with my scatterbrainedness, insanity, and hysteria, the team have finally sacked me.

KIDDING!  But I am stepping down, it wasn't an easy decision, and I'm sure I will regret it by January, but I need some time to recharge some creative batteries.  I have had a blast with the team, will miss all my teamies, and I should say that I will miss Red Leader, but she doesn't get rid of me, mwahahahahaaaaa.

ANYWAY - the theme for this challenge is

Your Favourite Person To Make For (and please tell us why)

For me, it's my darlin' mum, she loves receiving something unique that she knows has been

hand crafted just for her, and I know she stashes all her cards in a drawer in the dining room (she thinks I don't know about that)

What could I use for Mummy Bear other than the adorable James Bear from LOTV

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Sentiment is from a set of rubber stamps (ancient now) from C C Designs

Papers are from two different Christmas sets from Dovecraft

Star punch from Hobbycraft

Red cardstock from somewhere random on Amazon

The sponsor of this challenge is

Lee Holland

I do hope you will be able to pop over and join the fun, after all, everyone has someone to make for

Hugs

As You Like It Challenge (DT) Traditional or Contemporary Christmas

 Hello chaps, I'm finally back in the AS YOU LIKE IT CHALLENGE saddle, having missed the last few challenges.

For the new challenge starting today, AYLI would like you to share your

Traditional or Contemporary Christmas makes (please explain your choice)

I tend to make quirkier Christmas cards so contemporary suits me well, it allows me to use all sorts of cute character images, some tongue-in-cheek sentiments, and to avoid the traditional red and green combo.

A very clean and simple design 

Lili of The Valley - James In The Snow rubber stamp

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Background paper from The Works (Fairytales I think)

and a vertical Merry die from MFT DieNamics

The sponsor of this challenge is

Lee Holland

You have two weeks to enter, looking forward to seeing you all there.

Hugs

Christmas Animal - Favourite (DT) As You Like It Challenge

So, here we are again at Thursday, and it is the start of a new theme at the

AS YOU LIKE IT CHALLENGE

This time we are asking you to share your Favourite Christmas Animal with us

I've had a love affair with this bear since he first appeared, several years ago now, and every Christmas he has made an appearance in at least one of his many adventures.  It wouldn't be Christmas without him now.

Lili Of The Valley : James Bear Big Star

CC Designs : Snarky Christmas

MFT 6x6 papers : Fresh Squeezed Chevron and Graphic Grid

and our sponsor for this challenge will be

PolkaDoodles

Hugs to all

Feathers or Fur (DT) As You Like It Challenge

Morning all, how are we today then?   After a brief respite from the UK heatwave, it seems that temperatures are on the up again, so I shall be reverting to limp lettuce mode any minute now.

Before that happens, let me tell you about the new challenge from the AS YOU LIKE IT CHALLENGE and this time the theme is FUR OR FEATHERS (and why)

Whilst I love watching birds at a safe distance, I'm not so keen on them flapping about too close to me, too many run-ins with budgies, pigeons and seagulls perhaps, but I absolutely lurrrrrrrrrve anything in a fur coat.  So, anyway, this is an experiment in furriness

and an attempt to get some texture

So this was made using an old rubber stamp from LOTV featuring that very

furry James Bear

I have painted the bed and stocking with Distress Inks (ReInkers) but I have done

James with traditional watercolours but quite dry so I could get "thicker" paint and the each brushstroke had its own definition

Papers are from old Christmas collections from Dovecraft

Anyhoo, whether you prefer feathers or fur, you may like to know that the winner of this challenge will be invited to join us as a GDT for the first of the September challenges!

Hope you can join us.

Hugs to all

AYLI (DT) Fur or Feathers?

Morning all, hope things are going well for you on the run in to the Bank Holiday weekend!  Oh three glorious days in a row, bliss.

Ok then, it's a new challenge over at AS YOU LIKE IT and the theme for the next two weeks is FUR OR FEATHERS - your favourite, and tell us why.

For me, there is no contest, it is fur all the way, soft, strokeable, sniffable, snugglable, warm and cuddly fur, preferably when it is wrapped around an amenable animal!  Rosie simply does not accept my overtures for letting me dump her onto my lap for a cuddle session - how I envy those owned by lapcats.

Lili of The Valley - James Bear with Daisy

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Clouds done with Distress Inks (pad)

Sentiment is from an old Hero Arts clear sentiments set

Papers from Papercraft House

Our sponsor for this challenge is

Sweet Stamp Store

$10.00

So, come on over and share your furry/feathery makes with us!

Hugs

Squirrel xx

Penny Black and More - All Creatures Great and Small

Going Crackers (Christmas, of course)

Afternoon all, hope this finds you well.  It finds me sneezing and snuffling, but what else would you expect now that I am on holiday from work.  Grrrrrrr.

Anyhoo, I haven't used many of my Lili of the Valley stamps since I stepped down from the Design Collective but now that I have started making my C cards I am back on track, and here I am today with a James which I am going to enter into their Facebook challenge, even though my CAS style doesn't suit the Lili look apparently.  My stamps, I'll use them how I want!

So, this is James with Christmas Cracker

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Clearly Besotted sentiment

Crealies stitched rectangle die

MFT Die-Namics chevron die

Moss green Bazzil cardstock

Custome sized card base

and that's it, sweet and simple.

Feeling much happier now I have seen the Malaysian GP and Rosberg has stretched his lead over Hamilton by 23 points.  Good result for Jenson too on his 300th race start!

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

LOTV May Challenge

Hi All,  Well, May is here at last with, hopefully, some warmer and sunnier weather!

1 May saw the launch of the new Lili of The Valley Facebook Challenge

and this time you are being asked to follow a sketch designed by our very own Jen.

Here is my first make for the theme

I've used my favourite bear, James with Daisy, which is a retired LOTV stamp

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers are from the Nitwits Bonnets & Bowties pad

Sentiment die is Clearly Besotted

Flower dies are MFT

with some gingham Card Candy to finish

Here's the sketch

The challenge runs until 15 May so you still have lots of time to get your entries in.  There are some super prizes for the winner.

Looking forward to seeing you there

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

AYLI (DT) One or Multi Layers

Yoo-hoo folks, it's Thursday, so that means a new challenge over at AS YOU LIKE IT

For this challenge we would like you to tell us about your preference of 

ONE LAYER OR MULTI LAYERS

This was a tough choice really as I quite like to play with both, but as my style is principally CAS I have gone with the one layer to show off the image more.

I've used LOTV's James with Umbrella stamp (retired)

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

and a sentiment stamp from My Favourite Things Blue Skies Ahead set

and that's all there is to it!

Our sponsor for this challenge with a £10 voucher is

Crafts U Love

You have two weeks to enter the challenge, but you must tell us why you chose one or multi layers for your make!

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

James says Hello

Afternoon everyone.  Hope you are enjoying your weekend - it's "scorchio" here in the east, bright blue skies, sunny, and heading towards 30C.  You probably know that I am limp lettuce when it comes to hot weather, so it will come as no surprise that I have been taking refuge indoors and watching the qualifying for tomorrow's F1 Belgian Grand Prix!

The craft space is started to get back to normal after all the upheaval of the plumbing so I hope to be able to get inky again very soon, but in the meantime here is something I made a couple of weeks ago.

This is James Butterflies from LOTV

Painted, as usual, with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

The Hello die is by Penny Black - I had to cut the twirly tail off the O for it to fit the card - I cut it three times to make a word stack

Design papers are First Edition: Boho Chic

We were going to go and see the Oldies this afternoon, but mum was otherwise engaged so Toad is cutting the grass and I am going to experiment with my newly delivered Ground Espresso Distress Ink.  Rosie has her nose in the biscuit dish, some things don't change.

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Handsome!

Morning all.  Tis warm is it not?  I think the reason for my "out-of-sorts" at the weekend is that I am coming down with something - the throat is sore, the glands are up, the snuffles are starting.  What a time of year to catch a flippin' cold!

Colds are for Christmas, and so is this handsome young man - he is my first outing in August for the Lili Of The Valley Design Collective:

Oh I do love me some James Bear!

This one is James: Christmas Tree

Painted (of course) in Distress Inks (ReInkers) with some dots of Ice White Viva Pearl Pen

Papers are all Dovecraft Krafty Christmas

Sentiment by Paper Smooches

Pearls from stash

You may have noticed that the Lili bricks-n-mortar shop is closed at the moment.  Don't panic people, this is simply down to relocation - the on-line store continues as normal supplying all those lovely goodies.  Speaking of goodies, there are more to come this month with Part II of the Christmas release - keep an eye out for the release date and the obligatory sneak peeks soon.

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Midway Reminder for Without Words

It's halfway through July so the perfect time to fly-by with a midway reminder for our challenge over at WITHOUT WORDS where the theme is BLUE & BROWN.

There have been some superb entries so far, but there is always room for more!

Oh yes, it is my most favourite Christmas bear EVER, it's James Snow Angel from LOTV

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers are LOTV Frosty Christmas

Papermania Kraft Card

Sentiment from Paper Smooches

Snowflake die from Noor Design

Some of you will no doubt mention the snowflakes.  Yes, they are embellishments, but minimal.

Don't forget that you have until the end of the month to enter, so even with the school holidays (bah) you should still have enough time, and there is a fabulous prize on offer from our new sponsor

CLEARLY BESOTTED

Hope to see you there

Hugs, Squirrel xx

Without Words (DT) Christmas (Modern Look)

Well here we are - December again.  I don't know about you but for me, even though I know it is going to happen, December always seems to sneak up on me much faster than I feel it should!  

Of course, as it is the first Monday of December, it means a new challenge over at WITHOUT WORDS and the theme is CHRISTMAS (MODERN LOOK).  Very much up to you how you interpret this, but please remember to keep it CAS with a handcoloured image.  Sadly, because there have been so many invalid (overembellished) entries, we are going to have to start enforcing the rules to make it fair for everyone.

So, from me you have a 6x4 tent fold card

LOTV stamp - James: Christmas Tree

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers are Nitwits

Sentiment is LOTV

Stitched circle die and stitched rectangle dies are from Die-Namics

Silver corners are from stash

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Another Bear

Afternoon all.  Just popping by quickly with another bear card to share with you:

Another first for me - a side stepper card, and made without a safety net or a template, just a lot of guesswork and a trail of failed attempts in the bin!

I have made myself a very simple template for this so if anyone would like a copy just email me and I will whizz one over to you - this card is 6x5 but you can adjust the width easily

So, LOTV James Bear: Snow Angel

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers are an old pad - DCWV Christmas Stack

Sentiment is Personal Impressions

Tag is a Whimsy die

Snowflake is a Spellbinders die

Pearl brads are from stash

Additionals: Viva Pearl Pen and Glamour Dust

Dammit, that bear is handsome.

Oh, if anyone is wondering about the colour of his coat - it's Chipped Sapphire and Salty Ocean that I mixed in the palette.

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Tangled Tinsel

Morning all, how are we today?  I am hoping for a teensy bit of brightness today - yesterday afternoon I had to check the clock as it was so dark I was beginning to think it must be nearly hometime - and it was only 2.30!  It doesn't help that my window at work has a tinted film on the glass, so even daylight can look a bit dirty at times.

Anyhoo, on days like this we need a little something to cheer us up, and a never fail is that gorgeous and handsome bear, James.

I make no apologies for this being a CAS card!

This is LOTV James Bear (now retired)

Painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Green glitter is by Papermania

Green gingham paper is from Dovecraft Back To Basics Christmas

Sentiment is from Whimsy Snarky Christmas set

Gold/clear rope border from stash

Bet that's put a smile on your face, it certainly has mine!

Hugs to all for a happy Thursday

Squirrel xx

Bear And Back Again

Monday morning.  Normally all you would get from me at this time of day is a blerrgh but today it is just meh.  Funny that, I'm not at work but still have that Monday morning feeling.

Anyhoo, to cheer myself up, I have been playing with James again.

So this is LOTV James - Deck The Halls

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers) with a good dollop of Dovecraft fine glitter

Sentiment is Lindsay Mason from Personal Impressions

Papers are BoBunny Double Dots

Stitched edge die is MFT Die-Namics from the Blueprints 13 set

Border punch is Martha Stewart

That's the arty angle shot, here is the close up

I'm off for a haircut now, and the gasman cometh this afternoon to service the boiler.

Who said I don't know how to find the fun!

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Beloved James

Hello chaps!  I hope this finds you fine and dandy, but sending you furry hugs if you are not up to scratch and wishing you well.

I have a spring in my step today as it is only two more days of work before the holibob and I am so looking forward to Friday.  Unfortunately for Toad, he will be working until Friday evening, but good for me because I get a whole wonderful day of uninterrupted crafting.  Just me and Vince (so I shall be called upon to top up his food bowl at regular intervals).  For a cat that is so skinny, I am not sure where he is packing the grub (and yes, we have had his thyroid levels checked) but on a good day we are waving goodbye to 3-4 pouches of Felix!

Anyhoo, I have been making a start on the C cards.  Once 1 September arrived I knew I couldn't put it off any longer.  To make the task a little easier, out came my beloved James Bear.

This is one of my very first LOTV James and it is Balancing Act

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers are this year's Christmas collections (Modern and Vintage) from Dovecraft

Stitchy die is MFT Die-namics from the Blueprint 13 set

Gold edged rope border from stash

And the Ho ho ho sentiment is Cuddly Buddly

Did you notice?  Coordination!!  This time I actually sorted the papers before I started painting the image, lol.

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx

Twist and Shout!

Happy Bank Holiday Monday to all my UK bloggie pals, and a Happy Monday to anyone overseas.  Today is forecast to be wet and windy so Toad and I are heading off to a favourite garden centre this morning where they sell homebaked cakes, bagsy a cheese and ham scone with a big mug of latte!  Then we are popping over to see the Oldies to make sure they aren't up to any mischief.

Speaking of the Oldies, it is my beloved mum's birthday in a couple of weeks and I wanted to make her something a bit different from my normal.  So, when a pal suggested I make a twisted easel card I thought she had lost her mind, I don't do complicated.  But I sat down and watched a tutorial on YouTube and wondered why I had panicked - if someone had told me before it was only one fold I would have been turning these out by the bucket load.  I made my first one on Saturday (can't show you that yet) and my second one yesterday, which will be mum's birthday card.

Really sorry about the dark/light photo - it was a bugger to get a good shot of this.

So, LOTV James With Daisy

Painted with Distress Inks (ReInkers)

LOTV/Raspberry Road papers Baskets & Bunnies

Wild Rose Studio dies - Rose Corner and Wild Rose

Sentiment stamps from Personal Impressions

Pearls from stash

I made a little triangular block for the sentiment so it was raised at an angle, but it has more angle than originally anticipated, so it will be difficult to shove into an envelope.  Next job, a shallow box!

Thanks ever so much for popping over today.  I know I am way behind (again) with visits and comments so I really appreciate you taking the time out to still come and see me; it means a lot.

Hugs to all

Squirrel xx